I am so glad I overcame my trepidation, caused by all the talk of how depressing this is. It is, indeed, grim, grim, grim. But it ends with two scenes of such calm, serene resolution (real resolution - not the treacly Hollywood kind) that the end effect is down-right exhilarating.
Innaritu is a great film maker. And this film increases my respect for him. It is impressive that after making such a 'big' movie as Babel, he could let himself scale down - do something smaller, quieter, more personal.
If you read the credits closely, it becomes clear that Innaritu was trying to make his own 'Ikiru', possibly reflecting on the death of his own father (?) The result is tender, touching...and yes, hopeful.
And let it be said, this is one of the very few films I've seen that looks hard at globalization...and reminds us of how thoroughly it is shaping our world.
Innaritu is a great film maker. And this film increases my respect for him. It is impressive that after making such a 'big' movie as Babel, he could let himself scale down - do something smaller, quieter, more personal.
If you read the credits closely, it becomes clear that Innaritu was trying to make his own 'Ikiru', possibly reflecting on the death of his own father (?) The result is tender, touching...and yes, hopeful.
And let it be said, this is one of the very few films I've seen that looks hard at globalization...and reminds us of how thoroughly it is shaping our world.